Visa requirements for Portuguese citizens
Visa requirements for Portuguese citizens are the pre-established rules and conditions set by foreign countries and applicable upon entering them.
The information provided below serves a sample of possible requirements. The rules change often and can be different whether entering by air, sea or land. Remain informed before travel and contact the nearest embassy for updated information.
Portuguese citizens need to have a visa to enter around 30 countries, leaving about 180 of those that use a Visa on Arrival or visa-free system. This leaves Portuguese passport holders with a significant international travel liberty.
It is recommended that travelers stay within the visa's length of stay before visa expiration. Failure to abide by visa guidelines may result in visa revocation. That said, no matter the visa type selected, the length of the permitted stay may differ and is always established by the country's authorities. It can be anywhere from a few days to even a few months or years.
Portuguese citizens can apply for the following visas:
- Tourist visa: a visa issued for the purpose of tourism, usually given to people who are visiting another country but with no intention of immigrating or working in that country for any longer than their visa permits. These are usually applied for and granted during the visa application process at visa checkpoints in airports or at visa desks in border crossings. However, can also be obtained in the convenient form of an e-Visa or at an Embassy.
- Working visa: Issued by an embassy or consulate to foreign citizens that want to enter a jurisdiction for work purposes, such as employment, residence or investiment. This visa is issued when it's been determined that the individual meets all requirements for residence and work.
- Student visa: Issued by an embassy or consulate to foreign citizens that want to enter a jurisdiction for study purposes, such as higher education.
- Transit visa: issued to a person traveling across the borders of two countries for the sole purpose of travel from an origin country to another destination country. The visa is usually valid for as long as the traveler stays in transit, but can be revoked on short notice if there are any changes in visa type or status.
An important note is that all visa types have several subcategories (subclasses) depending on each visa's purpose or applicability. The most common subtypes are those below:
- A single-entry visa. This visa will allow citizens of Portugal to enter and exit the country just one time. This visa can be issued for up to 3 months, depending on your travel intentions (more specific visa requirements).
- A multiple-entry visa is a visa that allows a citizen of Portugal to enter and leave multiple times during a certain period; usually 3 or 6 months.
Travelers that fail to meet visa requirements or deadlines may be detained, fined or deported depending on their visa's purpose and the country's visa regulations.
Electronic visa
An electronic visa is an electronic visa granted using an online application option. This visa can be applied for anytime and will need to be paid for online. There are several advantages to using e-Visas, not least of which is that they're quick to process as one doesn't have to wait in line at any visa checkpoints.
On the other hand, it should also be noted that there are restrictions and requirements for e-Visa use. Nevertheless, e-Visa requirements are elementary and require minimal preparation.
For instance, one requirement is that you have a valid passport that will not expire throughout the whole duration of the planned trip.
Electronic visas are greatly facilitating visa handling processes since they require no Embassy visits. Currently, around 60 countries have come forward with an e-Visa option for Portuguese citizens, including Kenya, Djibouti, Egypt, and USA!
There are several requirements in order to apply for an e-Visa:
- Valid passport - for at least 6 months from the planned departure date
- Completed online visa application form
- An active email address - to receive the approved document
Please note! Additional supporting documents may be required depending on the selected destination.
Applicants will need to pay a visa fee in order to apply anywhere from €25 to €180, depending on the visa type. Portuguese passport holders applying for an e-Visa can use any online payment method choosing from several available.
An approved e-Visa allows its holders to engage in any leisure, business, or transit-related purposes. You can go on vacation, relax, try the available tourist attractions, visit your friends and family.
Moreover, you can go on a business trip and negotiate any future deals, look for new cooperation opportunities, or attend a meeting, seminar, or conference. Last e-Visa usage option is simply transit if the trip you're taking requires having a layover in a foreign country.
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is a visa issued at the port of entry where visa requirements are fulfilled by the traveler based on the type of visa selected and their country of citizenship.
This visa will allow citizens of Portugal to enter and exit the country just one time (usually). Traveling with this type of document means you don't have to apply for a visa before departure.
Currently, over 30 countries allow Portuguese citizens to get their visa on arrival. Before applying for an Embassy visa, check if a VoA system is in place for the destination you plan on visiting.
Moreover, numerous countries with the Visa on Arrival system available, also use e-Visas. Choose to apply for an e-Visa whenever possible for a stress-free and effortless traveling experience. This way you can easily omit long lines at the airport and stress connected with getting your visa the very last minute.
If the destination you've selected does not offer an e-Visa option, follow these steps to get a Visa on Arrival:
- Choose a visa type that best suits your itinerary and check if there are any required documents you would need to prepare (Do this before arriving to the selected country)
- Go to any border control checkpoint and ask for a Visa on Arrival application form. Next, fill out the visa application form completely and accurately, providing all the necessary information requested and submit it.
- Pay visa fee (if required). Please note! Some countries require travelers to cover the fee with local currency in cash.
- Additional requirements may be needed depending on the destination country.
Embassy visa
An Embassy visa is a visa that requires for visa requirements to be fulfilled through an Embassy visit. The visa application process can take up to 2,5 months and will require for the traveler to provide all necessary documents in order for visa processing. The visa fee is also usually higher than that of the e-Visa and Visa on Arrival option.
Luckily, only about twenty countries still require Portuguese citizens to apply for a visa in a traditional way. You'll need an Embassy visa upon visiting Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, North Korea, and other countries.
To apply for an Embassy visa, the most crucial step to complete is preparing the required documents. Contact the Embassy of the country you plan on visiting and ask for a current list of documents to prepare.
With a filled application form and a complete paperwork, visit the Embassy and submit your application. Next, you may need to go through a visa interview to further validate the purpose of your visit and cover the fees.
Start preparing for the Embassy visa application at least a few weeks before the planned departure date since processing can take some time.
Visa-free countries
A visa-free country is a country that allows visa-free entrance to any tourist, businessperson or transit traveler from other visa-free countries.
For instance, if you're travelling to a visa-free country, such as Taiwan, and it's your first visit to the country and you're not required to have a visa for whatever reason (e.g., EU, U.S., Australia), you wouldn't need a visa.
In some cases, visa-free countries may not allow travellers with certain nationalities to enter visa-free. Portuguese citizens can enter over a hundred different countries with no visa on hand!
Traveling visa-free requires Portuguese citizens to have a valid passport on hand. This is a great convenience since no visa handling process is necessary! Simply make sure that your passport will not expire throughout the whole duration of the planned trip.
Visa-free travel applies for tourism, business, and transit purposes. Enjoy all the activities you could engage in when traveling with an e-Visa or a Visa on Arrival.
Visa-free travel is also usually short-term and makes it possible for Portuguese passport holders to go on vacation, visit friends and family, relax, do business, or simply transit.
